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Phoenix Rising by Campbell Kay is a gripping solo performance about the life of one of Nottingham’s finest writers D.H Lawrence, performed by one its finest actors.
The narrative of the play consists of a chronological presentation of D.H Lawrence’s life, acted out by Paul Slack. Playwright Campbell Kay’s writing has a whimsical nature about it and Slack complements this with his ability to own the space and create not just vocally, but physically, the distinctive characters that all played a part in Lawrence’s life.
The beginning of the piece for me seems somewhat stagnant and having an interval for this kind of show only serves to disrupt the flow of the story. It might be interesting to see the show performed without one in future.
Only five minutes into the performance Slack manages to absorb the audience’s attention; he owns the space, which he uses to its full advantage. The play moves back and forth between snapshots of Lawrence’s early life to his present and Slack presents these with great dexterity. The minimal set highlights Slack’s acting ability and with the piece being performed in the compact Neville Studio, the audience is easily drawn into the world that Slack moulds as Lawrence. His use of accents is extraordinary and even the slightest pause is precise and perfect in changing the tone of the piece. The effectiveness is enhanced by the lighting the use of darkened light, creating shadows in the theatre, certainly complemented the depth of the dialogue that Slack exhibits to us.
Kay has created a show which is not only a tribute to Lawrence, but a tribute to the audience. Subtle humour and imagery are what, for me, drives the narrative. I think shows about the famous tend to be bogged down in facts and adhere less to the medium of theatre but instead about the information. Campbell Kay has created a spellbinding story, which can only be described as such by the performance of its narrator – Paul Slack. It’s clear from this performance that Kay and Slack in combination create a riveting performance which not only informs and teaches, but entertains and carries an audience through a great narrative. Audiences coming to the play with little knowledge of Lawrence’s life, and leaving the studio wanting to research and know more is a triumphant feat, and Kay's play gives audiences a great starting point.
Phoenix Rising: D.H Lawrence Son & Lover is at the Nottingham Playhouse – Neville Studio from Tuesday 8 - Saturday 12 September 2015
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